The Crushing of Present and Future Heritage Craftspeople by our Welfare State.
Part of my presentation at the Modern Makers & Antiquaries Event held by the Society of Antiquaries on the 22nd October ‘25 addressed the situation that heritage craftspeople can currently find themselves in within the Universal Credit system. I want to raise awareness of the diabolical situation that both present and any emerging generation of low income, self employed craft makers are facing and dealing with whilst attempting to make a livelihood from their craft.
In a nutshell, as I state below, the current system has led me to think that we are perceived by the government as offering no economic value. Therefore in the eyes of the government I believe we are being told we have and hold no value in our society.
Please find below an extract from my Modern Makers Event presentation. It is my hope, when I have the opportunity to do so, that with your support, I can create a manifesto for change.
“In terms of a viable future for my heritage craft form, for there to be the next young generation of full time professional basketmakers I am incredibly concerned. Not only has creativity, making and the arts been crushed within our present education system, (I have two teenage girls who can attest to this), but our present and what looks likely to be our future welfare state impedes, if not destroys the ability of us as modern craft makers, of us as self-employed low income earners to survive.
It’s seems to be a little known fact that within the Universal Credit system the self employed have to report their finances every month and that, (after their business expenses have been deducted), have to have an income of around £1600 a month in order to be eligible for the same welfare support that an employed person on £24,000 a year, (the minimum wage at 35 hours a week), receives.
This means that I have to be earning around £34,000 a year in order to receive basic welfare support for myself and my children. It’s not possible, believe me I’ve tried. What’s worse is that each month the minimum income floor of £1600 that I or any other maker or creative needs to reach in order to receive this welfare support isn’t reset to zero, our previous months deficit is included, and the chances of us ever receiving any future welfare support further decreases.
Couple this with inconsistent monthly earnings, myself and many other makers in the creatives industries live in constant survival mode with little or no welfare support. We offer no economic value and therefore in the eyes of the government I believe we are being told we have and hold no value in our society.
Creating and making, (which I believe is a fundamental human need), is increasingly again becoming for the privileged few. Those of us who need to fight to change this, to create a future for our heritage craft forms, to make a better future for our next generation, well we are often too worn down to do so.
Morris’s words that, “I do not want art for a few; any more than education for a few; or freedom for a few.” still ring so true and whilst I, as a modern maker speak up, please listen. And please if you can act upon the ability and the influence you have, help me to create positive change.”
The full Modern Maker presentation can be found at https://www.sarahlebreton.co.uk/news/modernmakerpresentation
Please email me at willow@sarahlebreton.co.uk if you can support change / help in the creation of a manifesto.